The goal of introduction of a sustainable environment for psychosocial rehabilitation for cancer patients of Latvia is to get people to receive rehabilitation after cancer as an integral part of oncological care and social components, facilitating their return to full social and economic life, reducing social exclusion. The target group are people with disabilities (patients) and their relatives; indirect-decision makers, professionals, the public in general. The project will be implemented in all territory of Latvia. It will promote psychosocial rehabilitation legitimacy and financial involvement, ensuring personnel selection and training in collaboration with "Montebello" centre, agreed service continuity (6 camps, 150 patients). Result: the rehabilitation of a legislative provision; attracted state and local governments provide funding for rehabilitation, rehabilitation programme with 20 trained employees, psychosocial rehabilitation service availability and continuity of the service can be obtained from the people who need it.

What is psychological rehabilitation?

Every year in Latvia approximately 10 000 people are diagnosed with cancer. Research shows that one in three people who have heard the phrase “You have cancer” need professional help. According to foreign dictionary rehabilitationis an "activity complex that helps to restorework capacity, physical and professional ability after the disease".

Psychological rehabilitation, in simple words, is a patient's return to social life. It is a process when a person learns to live with himself or herself and the diagnosis, accumulates strength and energy so that the person can help not only oneself but also others.

Psychological rehabilitation – from idea to reality!

While visiting Norway, Montebello, the cancer patient society “Dzivibas koks” has obtained experience in oncological patient psychological rehabilitation. After this visit the idea was clear- such practice should also be present in Latvia.

And soin 2009 the program was developed and the first camp for women, who have experienced breast cancer, named “Speka Avots”, was organized. Then the other one was organized the same summer. A year later, donations were enough to continue this initiative. Today, the implementation of psycho-social rehabilitation in Latvia has become one of the most significant priorities of the patient society “Dzivibas koks”.

PROGRAM

Psychological rehabilitation program for oncology patients “Speka Avots” was developed by the society “Dzivibas koks”, industry professionals and Norwegian experience.

Program duration: 5 days. During the lectures, group classes, private lectures everyone has an opportunity to obtain an answer to the question – how to live on?

Professionals:

-Oncologist, oncologist-surgeon;

-Immunologist;

-Physiotherapist;

-Dietician;

-Homeopath;

-Lawyer on patient rights etc.

Therapies:

-Art therapy;

-Dance therapy;

-Music therapy;

-Clay therapy;

-Yoga etc.

As well as Nordic walking classes, beauty secret lectures, evenings of negotiations and even concerts.

With the support of Latvian government and European Economic Area Financial Mechanism it becomes possible to implement the project of “Sustainable environment in psychosocial rehabilitation for oncological patients in Latvia.” The aim of this project is to develop psychosocial rehabilitation after cancer treatment as an integral part of the oncology as well as social care. Such rehabilitation would enable the oncology patient to return to a fulfilling social and economic life, while at the same time reducing the feeling of social exclusion.

The project is specifically targeted at oncology patients and their relatives, as well as government institutions, mass media and the society as a whole. Additionally, lobbying activities at national and regional level will be carried out within the framework of this project. The aim of these activities is to achieve support of the psycho-social rehabilitation development in Latvian society. Furthermore, other activities that will be implemented within the framework of this project will be: development of amendments to the law, organization of cross-sectional conference, provision of the methodology as well as training of the specialists that will be working with the oncology patients, organization of psychosocial rehabilitation camps for oncology patients, etc.

The cooperation partner of this project is the psychosocial rehabilitation center for oncology patients “Montebello-Senteret” in Norway.

The project is financially supported by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.